Archives for March 2015

What does it mean to “be filled with the Spirit”? 3:18 — explains –> 5:18 “Do not get drunk with wine…but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) does not mean we need more of the Spirit. We already have Him! No, being filled with the Spirit means “to know the love of Christ” and [Read More…]

Now, if anyone says this total forgiveness teaching is going ‘light on sin,’ it’s not. It’s actually going heavy on sin. The wages of sin is death, not God being hacked off at you for five minutes until you apologize, like some suggest. So sin is serious, with death as the only just penalty. But [Read More…]

I could try to imitate Jesus Christ for the rest of my life. But even the most rigid conformity to Christ-like behavior wouldn’t place me in his spiritual bloodline. I am who I am by birth, not by behavior. Realizing that it’s all about birth, not behavior, is illuminating. It brings new meaning to that [Read More…]

’Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.’ (Col. 3:2-3) Too often, we Christians presume that we’re ‘sinners’ at the core just like everyone else. In doing so, we ignore one of the greatest aspects of the cross—the killing off [Read More…]

This past week, one of the most recognized actors in our day, Leonard Nimoy, died at age 83. Most everyone in the United States will remember him primarily for his role as the beloved Mr. Spock in the 1960’s TV series, Star Trek, a series which continues to be shown on TV to this day. Mr. Spock was known primarily for three characteristics. 1. He lived by logic and reason with little or no emotion. 2. He could render an enemy unconscious with his Vulcan Nerve Pinch. 3. He used the Vulcan Salute accompanied by the words, “Live long and prosper”.

What most do not know is that the Vulcan Salute and the words, “Live long and prosper” originated from Leonard Nimoy’s upbringing in an orthodox Jewish home. The salute he used in the Star Trek series was created by Nimoy himself from the Jewish Priest’s hand pose as a blessing that he saw over and over as a child. Numbers 6:24-26 was the blessing which accompanied that sign which Nimoy translated to “Live long and prosper.” Who knew all of that was Biblical in origin?

Another hand symbolizes the blessings God has given to us as well as Christ followers. That hand is the nail pierced hands of Jesus Christ because of His death on the cross for our sins. The ancient text from Psalms 22, especially verse 16, accurately prophesied that Jesus’ hands would be pierced for us, along with His feet.

This piercing of His hands which held His body to the cross provided removal of our sins. This made it possible for God to give us the greatest blessing we will ever receive, a blessing which truly will cause us to live long and prosper, not only in this life but in the one to come. That blessing is Jesus Christ uniting Himself to us, bringing us from death to life. He is our life right now, according to Colossians 3:4.

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Jesus Christ in us is our only functional source of life, meaning He is the well from which we are to draw life from so our earthly existence can have true meaning, making it work and then blessing others.

Included in this blessing is eternal life which is something we already possess because we are united to Jesus Christ according to 1 John 5:11-12.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

And more importantly, because we are united with Jesus Christ, we have a never ending treasure for now and for later. Jesus Christ in us is our greatest treasure.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

How can we better enjoy Jesus as our treasure and as our functional source of life for everyday living? We choose as an act of our will (regardless of our feeler at times) to proclaim Him often, reminding ourselves that Jesus is our one and only true source for life.

This past week, one of the most recognized actors in our day, Leonard Nimoy, died at age 83. Most everyone in the United States will remember him primarily for his role as the beloved Mr. Spock in the 1960’s TV series, Star Trek, a series which continues to be shown on TV to this day. Mr. Spock was known primarily for three characteristics. 1. He lived by logic and reason with little or no emotion. 2. He could render an enemy unconscious with his Vulcan Nerve Pinch. 3. He used the Vulcan Salute accompanied by the words, “Live long and prosper”.

What most do not know is that the Vulcan Salute and the words, “Live long and prosper” originated from Leonard Nimoy’s upbringing in an orthodox Jewish home. The salute he used in the Star Trek series was created by Nimoy himself from the Jewish Priest’s hand pose as a blessing that he saw over and over as a child. Numbers 6:24-26 was the blessing which accompanied that sign which Nimoy translated to “Live long and prosper.” Who knew all of that was Biblical in origin?

Another hand symbolizes the blessings God has given to us as well as Christ followers. That hand is the nail pierced hands of Jesus Christ because of His death on the cross for our sins. The ancient text from Psalms 22, especially verse 16, accurately prophesied that Jesus’ hands would be pierced for us, along with His feet.

This piercing of His hands which held His body to the cross provided removal of our sins. This made it possible for God to give us the greatest blessing we will ever receive, a blessing which truly will cause us to live long and prosper, not only in this life but in the one to come. That blessing is Jesus Christ uniting Himself to us, bringing us from death to life. He is our life right now, according to Colossians 3:4.

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Jesus Christ in us is our only functional source of life, meaning He is the well from which we are to draw life from so our earthly existence can have true meaning, making it work and then blessing others.

Included in this blessing is eternal life which is something we already possess because we are united to Jesus Christ according to 1 John 5:11-12.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

And more importantly, because we are united with Jesus Christ, we have a never ending treasure for now and for later. Jesus Christ in us is our greatest treasure.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

How can we better enjoy Jesus as our treasure and as our functional source of life for everyday living? We choose as an act of our will (regardless of our feeler at times) to proclaim Him often, reminding ourselves that Jesus is our one and only true source for life.

We desperately need a deep sense of value as a person in order to function mentally and emotionally in the way that God intends. Having a sense of irrevocable value can and will affect our attitudes and actions. If we merely try to change our behavior …